Local Value Chain for CO₂ Management in Rogaland – Phase 1: Feasibility Study

Background

Large-scale transport of CO₂ is not cost-effective for the medium/small point emissions in Rogaland. Similar issues are also known in central Norway, southern and eastern Norway and in the area around Mo Industrial park, where clusters have been created to map the collection of CO₂ volumes and opportunities for joint transport solutions.

The background for this study is to look at the establishment of a regional value chain for CO₂ that is adapted to the region’s geography and emission levels. It is also desirable to assess the importance of collecting CO₂ volumes from adjacent areas such as Agder and Western Norway, as well as from other parts of the country.

In order for regional CO₂ point emissions to be able to deliver to full-scale storage systems, separate solutions must be developed for unloading from both smaller ships and from tankers. Traffic from smaller vessels can hinder the efficient operation of larger receiving terminals that receive CO₂ from Europe. It may be appropriate to create a regional (or national) CO₂ hub for smaller emission points that are linked to the main infrastructure via a “tie-in” pipe solution. Such a CO₂ hub with a “tie-in” solution and the use of smaller ships will be investigated in this project.

Goal
The aim of the project is to identify and evaluate possible solutions for small-scale CO₂ logistics using sea and land transport carriers in Rogaland – as well as assess the significance of increased CO₂ volumes from Agder and Western Norway, and other parts of the country. New solutions for ship transport of smaller volumes of CO₂ will be investigated as well as solutions for connecting these logistics solutions to a regional CO₂ receiving terminal with a “tie in” to the main pipe from Gismarvik.

Activities
The project includes mapping of CO₂ sources and CO₂ intermediate storage, development of new technology for climate-neutral ship transport of CO₂, as well as operational assessments around loading and unloading between terminals. The project will also assess the establishment of a regional intermediate storage that can be connected to Horisont Energi’s main pipe for injection via a “tie-in”. SINTEF Energi’s calculation model iCCS will be further developed in relation to this and used to find the best logistics solution in terms of costs and the environment. The most important risk elements for starting the CO₂ value chain must be mapped and discussed.

Topeka and Larvik Shipping will jointly study and look at the development of emission-free CO₂ cargo ships specially adapted for shipping CO₂ from small and medium-sized emission points (80,000-300,000 tons/year). Emphasis must be placed on cost-effective and safe loading systems as well as preventing emissions from the ship’s operation itself. Different loading capacities, interaction with loading and unloading systems on land as well as route studies to optimize logistics will be studied.

Results
A small-scale, electric ship of 700 m3 has been developed. This ship provides significant cost reductions for smaller emission points that will transport CO₂ over moderate distances. An example of this is the transport of 250,000 tons of CO₂ from ERAMET in Sauda to Gismarvik CO₂ HUB.

A new and innovative solution has been developed for receiving small and moderate amounts of CO₂ from small-scale ships and tankers. The concept consists of a simple receiving terminal and a pipe (tie-in) to Horisont Energi’s main pipe for injection and storage of CO₂. The solution is advantageous as it can be difficult to combine traffic of cars and smaller ships (50 m) and large CO₂ ships (100 – 200 m). The solution can also provide significant cost reductions for small and medium-sized CO₂ emission points. This is on the condition that CO₂ is shipped from regions other than Rogaland.
The project has mapped smaller and alternative CO₂ sources and CO₂ users in Rogaland. Existing and possible new sources have been considered. The study shows that the market for biogenic CO₂ mainly consists of greenhouses and the food industry. Demand will be significantly lower than future assumed production. Surplus CO₂ can then either be sent to a plant for CCU (for example methanol production), or to the nearest receiving solution for CO₂ storage. We have used the new above-mentioned tie-in reception terminal as an example. For such a local value chain for CO₂ to function, it is the project’s recommendation that manufacturers adhere to a specification that is similar to food-grade CO₂ with the removal of certain volatile gases such as NOx and oxygen to meet injection requirements.

SINTEF has carried out logistics calculations for CO₂ from the following emission point:
• ERAMET- Sauda
• Forus Energy Recovery, Sandnes
• BOB, Bergen
• Returkraft, Kristiansand

There will also be calculations for CO₂ from:
• A cluster in the middle of Norway
• A cluster in Eastern Norway

They have assessed costs for transport from emissions to Horisont Energi’s CO₂ HUB and to the Tie-in solution for:
• A standard Northern Light ship of 7500 m3
• A standard size-optimized ship of less than 1250 m3
• The newly developed electric ship of 700 m3
• Tanker (Forus Energy Recovery)

The result shows that it is cost-effective for smaller players to use the new electric ship. In addition, a smaller ship provides significantly better flexibility. The disadvantage of several ship calls to the terminal can be counteracted by building a tie-in solution that is optimized for the reception of several smaller ships and tankers. Smaller volumes should be driven by car to the nearest CO₂ storage if the distance does not exceed a driving time of 1 – 2 hours.
A pleasant side effect of the project is that SINTEF has gained access to updated cost and operating figures for small-scale ships from the shipping industry. This will add value to future projects because of improved quality for calculations of ship costs.

Further Work
In the beginning of 2025, there will be a workshop where the results from this study will be presented to the consortium that is involved in the study for CCS Haugalandet. Ship and tie-in solution, as well as our reflections on specifications, have been identified as one of several solutions/elements that CCUS Haugalandet can use for a regional transport solution for CO₂.

Due to the promising results, the project will consider investigating the solutions further, as we see that we have created the basis for a possible national receiving terminal for suppliers of small-scale CO₂. The project hopes that our contribution can be part of the solution for CO₂ transport in Norway.

Publications
Results from the study will be presented at the CO₂ conference on 15 January, at the CLIMIT Summit on 27 February and a presentation at TCCS-13 is planned in June.